Chapter 34
Lucie came down from her room after changing quickly. She put on a black tank top and a pair of shorts. The guys hovered around the table as Aedan pointed to something and laughed.
“What are you guys doing?” Lucie asked as she came closer to investigate.
“Just giving your mate here a tour down memory lane.” Aedan beamed widely.
She watched as Derrick lifted something up, and she realized what they were doing. They were going through their photo albums! Aedan was also showing him pictures from his phone. Derrick smirked and waved a picture at her.
“He said I can keep this one.” Derrick held up a picture of Lucie in a pink sleeveless dress.
Lucie smiled and shook her head. “That one was from prom.” She felt mildly embarrassed as he stared at the picture. She watched his brows furrow as he lifted up another photo.
“Who is this? Your date?” Derrick asked, lifting up another picture of Lucie in the same dress next to a very tall, muscular guy.
It was someone he didn’t recognize. The guy had black hair and light blue eyes and was half lifting Lucie up into his chest. He could feel his blood boiling mildly, seeing someone holding his mate so close. Way too close.
Lucie bit her bottom lip and smiled. “Yes, that was my date. You turned me down and Jasper was busy.” Technically it was his double that turned her down.
“You two seem close,” Derrick said as his eyes darkened on the photo.
“That’s only a picture of one moment. I believe those two ended up in bed together that night,” Aedan said with a smirk.
“Aedan,” Lucie hissed.
“What? You did!” Aedan grinned widely.
Derrick’s eyes lifted up to Lucie. There was a menacing possessiveness in them, and the aura of a killer began filling the room. “Where is this guy? I want to meet him.”
Lucie laughed. “I know you’re strong, but don’t bother. You can’t beat him.” She looked over at Aedan, who started laughing.
“Gotta let that one go. Lucie is right. He would take you down.” Jasper smiled and patted Derrick on the back.
“Oh look, here it is,” Aedan said, pulling another picture out.
“Aedan, don’t!” Lucie squealed and tried to leap for the picture, but Derrick quickly snatched it. Lucie watched him immediately tense. His muscles flexed and his hand trembled slightly. “Now wait a minute. Let me explain,” she said calmly. It was cute seeing his jealousy, but it was unwarranted.
“You can explain this?” Derrick said, turning the picture so she could see it better.
She knew exactly what picture it was. It was a picture of her and said guy under the covers in bed together. Aedan had run in and snapped a picture as they held up their hands, trying to block themselves from the picture.
“Do you have feelings for him?” Derrick asked in an icy tone.
“Wait, let me explain—”
“Do you?” Derrick asked tersely.
“Of course I do, but—”
Derrick’s dark gaze snapped to Lucie. There was something crushing about his gaze, almost smothering.
But more than that, she could feel his pain.
The suffocating, drowning sensation started filling her up again.
She walked up and cupped his face in her hands.
“Will you listen to me? Turn the picture over.”
Derrick looked into her eyes and back to the photo.
This all happened before they were mates, so it shouldn’t bother him, but she told him she’d never touched anyone.
His mind continued to race as he flipped the photo over.
On the back was written “Lucie and Mikah caught hiding from Alexa after pranking her.” He looked back at Lucie, who still had his cheek cupped in her hand.
“Aedan, don’t tease him,” Lucie scolded.
“There has never been anyone else.” She smiled at Derrick and brushed her hand over his cheek.
She felt his breath as he took in her scent, calming himself down.
“Since I couldn’t go with you or Jasper, my cousin Alexa’s guardian Mikah took me to prom.
At the after-party, Mikah and I tricked Alexa into eating a ghost pepper.
This picture was us hiding from her wrath and Aedan outing us. ”
“I’m sorry,” Derrick muttered, embarrassed at himself.
“Aedan was provoking you. It’s okay.” She stepped closer and wrapped her arms around him, playing with the hair at the back of his neck and holding his gaze.
In their case, it would really be a good idea to be marked as soulmates.
She could see many misunderstandings not happening in the future because of it.
“Maybe you should just mark her now. It might help you get control of that jealousy.” Jasper snickered. “Come on, Aedan. Let’s finish the movie.”
Aedan chuckled and slapped Derrick on the back. “Sorry, it’s like a rite of passage for a brother to do these things.” He winked at Derrick and Lucie and followed Jasper into the living room.
Lucie bit her bottom lip and smiled up at him. “Do you want to go ahead and mark me now? It may prevent further misunderstandings.”
Derrick leaned his head down, growling against her neck. “I don’t think your room is soundproof enough … not with the moans I will make come from your mouth.”
Lucie giggled. “They’re soundproof for werewolf mating. Don’t use a lame excuse like that.”
Derrick nibbled on her neck, letting his tongue flick over the spot where he would mark her.
“I’ll be back to mark you, Lucie, when I can stay with you afterward for a few days.
I want to be there with you through everything.
We’re both very special cases, and I’m a bit terrified of what might happen after the marking, to be honest. I’m afraid I won’t be able to pull myself away from you afterward.
And yet I can’t leave you unmarked either.
We’ll both be stronger because of it. But it will make being parted …
torturous.” He moved his lips to her cheek and buried his nose in her hair.
“Stay with me now … mark me now,” she said quietly. She felt his fingers dig into her, and he quietly groaned into her hair.
“Maybe that is a good idea.” Derrick’s breath became more ragged and he pulled her body flush against his.
He grabbed her chin and tilted it up, crashing into her lips frantically.
He plunged his tongue into her mouth, trying to kiss her as deeply as possible.
Her fingers tugging into his hair, and pulling him toward her only encouraged him more.
He pulled away, his dark eyes gazing into hers.
“Let’s go to your room.” She breathlessly nodded her head, and he smiled at her.
They both wanted it. Sometimes the best-laid plans couldn’t wait for what nature intended.
He lifted Lucie up bridal style and began moving toward the stairs.
They heard a knock on the pack door just as they reached the first step. Derrick halted and turned. They both watched curiously as Aedan and Jasper went to the door. Sam stood just outside.
“I ran into him by the pack territory line. He needs to speak with Ryan.” Sam motioned for the person behind him to come inside.
Derrick slid Lucie down onto her feet. “Lenny?!” Derrick approached the door as the guy walked in, his eyes glazing over as a conversation between the two of them took place.
Voidless are heading in different directions to different packs. I think they’re trying to provoke the king and queen of the wolves to respond, Lenny reported to both Jasper and Ryan.
Shit. Derrick pursed his lips together.
You’re going to need my help until the other soldiers come.
Jasper looked at Derrick. I’ll come back and take Lucie to the vampire kingdom right after the situation is under control, but for now, you’re going to need me, so don’t argue or I will pull rank on you.
Jasper gave him a serious look. They didn’t know that Derrick was the prince and only the prince could outrank Jasper, besides their king and queen.
What is everyone doing currently? Derrick asked Lenny.
They’ve broken up in groups of two and are trying to eliminate as many as possible.
Derrick nodded. Go. He looked at Jasper and nodded again. Go too. I’ll catch up.
Jasper and Lenny both blurred away while Derrick turned to face Lucie. He could see the concern in her eyes. He wished they could have had their moment together first. He took commanding steps toward her and took her hand, pulling her to a more secluded area of the house.
“Baby, I’ve got to go.” He cupped her cheeks and looked into her eyes.
“What’s wrong? What’s happening?” Lucie pleaded with her eyes as she felt her stomach drop. For him to have to leave like this, it must be something big.
He rubbed her cheeks with his thumbs and smiled.
“Everything is going to be fine. The voidless are spreading out and heading for other packs. It’s a trap to lure your family out.
I’m certain of it. We’ll take care of it.
It isn’t more than we can handle. But I’m going to have to personally see to this.
” The look in her eyes was breaking his heart.
He could feel how much she wanted to go with him.
“But what if—”
Derrick leaned forward and pressed his mouth against hers, silencing her. Their lips moved together as he enjoyed the quick taste of her.
“Listen to me. When Jasper comes back, he’s taking you to the vampire kingdom.
Please, just go with him for now. And after the ceremony, you can head to the dragon kingdom.
I will see you soon.” He squeezed her against him tightly with one hand while the other tilted her chin up to him.
He crashed into her lips again, urgently and desperately.
His last taste of his mate before he would have to leave her.
“I love you, Lucie. Stay here and wait for Jasper …”
Lucie couldn’t breathe, experiencing a mixture of both their strangled emotions.
She could feel her eyes watering slightly, which caught her off guard.
She didn’t imagine she was going to feel this way when they had to part.
Though to be honest, this was very unexpected.
She squeezed her fingers into his shirt.
“I love you. Please … be safe, and come back to me soon.”
He brushed his lips against her forehead and inhaled her scent deeply.
He then squeezed his eyes shut and pulled away from her.
When he reached the door, he turned to Aedan.
“Take care of her for me,” he said, his voice cracking slightly.
His eyes met with the watery emeralds of his mate.
He felt like his heart was shattering. It was taking everything in him to fight against his instincts in order to leave her.
He forced a smile. “I love you … my little mate.”
Lucie watched as he disappeared from the room.
Sam left as well, shutting the door to give her privacy.
She felt Aedan’s arm wrap around her shoulder as tears spilled down her cheeks.
She felt a heavy pressure on her chest. Her nose and eyes burned.
The farther his scent trailed away, the heavier the pressure became.
Part of her soul was gone, and it was a painful feeling.
“Let’s binge movies all night. We’ll set up a fort in the living room and fill it with snacks.
” Aedan knew he couldn’t do anything to help her, but he could at least stay by her side.
Seeing his sister’s tears hurt him, because he couldn’t fix this.
He looked up at the closed door with a frown, “Come on, Lucie,” he said gently as he led her away.